I recently had the distinct pleasure of seeing the work of two of my former UCLA students – Cynthia Lambakis and Samantha Williams – in the 2014 Pasadena Showcase House of Design.
This year, the event celebrates its 50th Showcase House, a 1915 English country estate in the Arts and Craft style. The House will be open to May 11 (Mother’s Day).
Cynthia and Samantha – whose Pasadena-based Ederra Design was selected to do the interior for the nanny’s room – did a beautiful job in light blue, beige and gray. What particularly caught my eye were the dimensional dogwood plaster flowers on the ceiling and originally designed dogwood wallpaper.
Cynthia Lambakis
The house is a stunner. Originally known as The Flint House, for its first owners, Robert and Margaret Flint, the 8,200-square-foot home featured 17 rooms, and was built by famed architect Stiles O. Clements at a cost of $28,000, compared with the $5,000 cost of an average home of that time.
Go to the showcase – you will see seven stunningly decorated bedrooms, including a nursery, a nanny’s room and a traveler’s suite, ten baths, five fireplaces, a media room, oak floors, redwood wall paneling, and floor-to-ceiling leaded glass windows. The 3.5-acre grounds feature a lily pond, river-rock springhouse, a variety of lovely gardens, a pool with dressing rooms, a tennis court, a greenhouse, a gardener’s potting shed and an outdoor kitchen. In addition, there is a chauffeur’s suite complete with sitting area and kitchenette situated above the carriage house.
I’m so proud of Cynthia and Samantha for having been selected for this prestigious and competitive annual event, which has raised millions of dollars for arts and cultural programs.
Samantha Williams
Speaking of former students – you are all such a gift to me – I received some very lovely comments from some of you. They mean so much to me that I would like to share them with you.
From Bernard Bierman, M.D.:
“I always look forward to reading your blog. Over the many years since I last attended your classes, I have referred many of my patients who are “stuck” in their careers (or their lives) to your courses, always explaining that you are truly one of the best teachers I have ever had. You really do have a gift for teaching and we are all lucky that you choose to share it.”
From Carlyn Lampert:
“It was wonderful to get your newsletter. I am sure the Dean (of UCLA Extension) found you and your class wonderful and stimulating. I know I did. I didn’t know I was interested in the history of architecture and design until your class.”
From Sonja Carlin:
“The best Art History class I have taken yet is the one you taught on American Art History 18 months ago at Santa Monica College. I recently completed UCLA Extension Western Art Survey I, II, & III. I enjoyed it but I miss your passion and depth of knowledge. I am going to sign up for your Interior Design Course as soon as I can fit it in my schedule. You are the very best!!!”
All my best to you,
Eleanor